Chapter 110
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Imperial Invitation
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“Hmmm hmmm hmmm! That's how it is!”
“Hmmm...”
Right after being eliminated from the subjugation festival.
Nayu and Chayuri stood in the waiting room, arms crossed seriously as they watched the screen.
“I never expected a Rank 2 beast to suddenly awaken like that!”
“Exactly. Because of it, we got stuck and...”
“And on top of that, Junior Ian is still alive even after that giant dinosaur's jump!”
The Giant Footprint Brachio's leap had knocked every cadet on the ground out of the running.
The festival hadn't ended with everyone's elimination solely because of Ian's team.
Ian and Hisenna, still airborne, hadn't been eliminated yet.
Hisenna looked like she would plummet and drop out any second.
But Elrim had appeared with her Red Light Stitch, keeping Ian alive as he finished off the Rank 2 beast.
The cadets were stunned by the absurd scene.
But the two of them were fretting over something entirely different.
“The operation failed!”
It was the scheme Nayu and Chayuri had cooked up back at the barbecue joint.
It had been purely for satisfying Chayuri's lustful desires.
“But it actually worked out better this way. If he catches that thing, Ian wins, so if we'd gone through with it, he might not have won at all.”
“That's that, and this is this!”
Their plan was simple.
Nayu knew Chayuri had feelings for Ian and had offered to help.
The goal was for Chayuri to gobble Ian up whole. (Chayuri had blushed at the phrasing, but Nayu pushed it through.)
Normally, Hisenna and Elrim were always around, keeping a close eye.
Use the subjugation festival to peel Hisenna and Elrim away, leaving Chayuri alone with Ian.
To do that, subtly knock Ian out first during the festival.
Then Chayuri voluntarily drops out naturally.
While Hisenna and Elrim continue, Chayuri approaches Ian.
Then it's full-body assault.
“But that plan was a bit off. Forcing Ian to drop out, no matter what...”
“But if you just sit there watching those two snatch him away right now!”
“No, that's... And what's this 'full-body assault'?”
“Just shove your body at him, and any guy will attack on his own!”
Chayuri liked the outcome the plan promised,
but the method nagged at him a little.
Simply put, it was ditching Hisenna and Elrim to monopolize Ian.
And making him drop out of the festival for it felt kind of bad.
Of course, not an immediate knockout.
Just pull Ian out a hour or two early, before the festival ended, without hurting the score much.
Chayuri had agreed at first, then come to his senses and objected later.
But when he refused, Nayu got mad and insisted they do it.
Nayu would stop at nothing to achieve Chayuri's goal.
Grateful, but a bit scary.
“Anyway, the festival's over, so that plan is...”
“No. We've still got a chance.”
Just when he thought it was done, Nayu grinned wickedly.
“We'll target the after-party once the awards are over.”
“Pardon?”
“I'll pour drinks down Junior Hisenna and Junior Elrim's throats. Meanwhile, you pour drinks down Junior Ian, sneak him away without them noticing, and gobble him up!”
“No, that's a bit...”
“Hey now!!”
Bonk!
Irked by Chayuri's hesitation, Nayu let out a weird yell, jumped up, and bonked him on the head.
It was like an illegal tutor willing to break any law for a student's exam success.
Helping Chayuri achieve her goal was more important to Nayu than anything.
Marriage and wifely loyalty were off the table since they were both women.
But that very sameness let them share worries and fully support Chayuri's aims.
That was the Ronnight way, the loyalty of the Ronnight house.
Of course, Chayuri sometimes found Nayu's zeal frightening.
“Get your head in the game! Those two are still eyeing their chance!”
“Ugh, ugh... That hurts...”
“If you're this lax and they gobble up Junior Ian first, then what!”
“Those two aren't the type to...”
“Women are like that! Friendship vanishes in front of a guy they like!”
“That's sexist, Nayu. Someone might take offense...”
“I'm a woman too, so who cares if I discriminate against my own gender!”
Chayuri couldn't win against Nayu's fierce pressure.
Before he could even wonder if this was right, Nayu laid out the next plan.
“Hmm...”
“Get your head in the game!”
Under Nayu's insistence, Chayuri had no choice but to nod.
He knew it wasn't right, but he couldn't hide his secret excitement.
“Ugh, uwa...?”
The sight before me left me babbling like an idiot, my higher brain functions offline.
An unfamiliar room I'd never seen.
A huge bed unlike the dorm ones.
And a girl lying next to me.
Shift-
“N-No!”
Chayuri, fast asleep, stirred, and I hurriedly yanked the blanket up to cover her head.
Almost saw too much. Would've been nice, but... no, bad thought.
Why the hell is this guy dressed like that?
Swish-
I carefully got up and slipped out of bed.
I wasn't wearing a damn thing.
Shit. What the hell is going on?
No. Scratch that. Anyone could see it was that kind of situation.
Did I seriously hook up with Chayuri last night?
Trying to remember made something bubble up.
But my head throbbed from the hangover, so I stopped.
First things first: clothes.
If Chayuri wakes up like this, we're screwed.
I managed to dress quietly without waking her.
Then I opened the gallery.
Wondered if drunk-me posted something, but no.
The gallery vibe was chill.
“What the...”
What the hell happened?
Should I bolt?
But we'll see each other at the academy anyway—running would just make it awkward.
Ugh, head hurts. Need some hangover remedy.
Wake Chayuri? At least get some water...
Heading to the room's fridge for water, that's when I saw it.
Tissue wads scattered all over the floor.
The moment I spotted them, last night's memories ignited like a fuse.
“H-Huh, heh, ahh, uh heh uh...!”
Last night, going wild all over Chayuri's body.
Thinking of the sensations made my lower half tingle.
That aggressive body closing in—no man could resist.
Good thing? Bad thing? It hadn't gone all the way.
We stopped at the pre-game, busted a few times, and I passed out.
“Hold on. Then I...”
I'm the worst.
Only I got mine, then conked out solo.
But judge, I'm innocent!
How was I supposed to hold back as a man?
If I hadn't drunk so much, I could've powered through...
Rustle-
Then Chayuri shifted in bed.
I held my breath instinctively.
Chayuri groggily sat up.
“Uh, h-hey. Sleep well?”
I blurted out a dumb morning greeting.
Chayuri rubbed her eyes, slowly waking.
The blanket saved us from morning disaster.
“Ugh... Did you sleep well, Ian?”
“Y-Yeah. Beautiful night.”
Shit. What am I saying?
Total nonsense, but luckily Chayuri was still half-asleep and didn't react much.
“Uh, yeah. Gonna hit the bathroom. Uh. Get dressed.”
“Y-Yes.”
Gentlemanly enough? Honestly, I just had to pee.
By the time I finished in the bathroom, Chayuri was dressed.
Guess we can just leave like this.
Still dizzy, super flustered, no clue what to do.
Chayuri just responds, no chit-chat.
No manual for handling post-booze naughty wake-up.
Especially since it didn't go all the way, and only I enjoyed her body.
Gallery might have tips for smooth talk,
but posting this felt wrong, and it'd flip the place upside down, so nah.
We left the room awkwardly.
The building we'd crashed in was a hotel in Merhen City.
We walked toward the academy in silence for a while.
Glance-
I sneaked a peek at Chayuri.
And knew I wasn't the only one feeling this way.
“......”
Chayuri walked lips pursed, hair swaying with her steps,
her ears peeking through—bright red, ready to burst.
Chayuri's embarrassed. Anxious.
Then it hit me late.
She's probably more messed up right now.
Dumbass me, saying nothing.
A guy hanging his head like an idiot after that.
29cm master always said: After finishing, always hold the girl.
Hugging now would kill the vibe.
“Chayuri. Feeling okay? You drank a ton last night.”
“Ah, y-yeah. Walking helps. But my stomach's still...”
“Yeah? Wanna grab some food before heading back?”
“Sounds good.”
I walked a bit closer to Chayuri.
Headed to a spot with her favorite soupy dishes.
We still didn't talk about last night.
Neither of us could bring it up easily.
And suddenly changing friend dynamics over a drunken fling felt out of order.
Instead, I fussed over her more than usual. Gentler.
Setting down utensils, scooping food for her.
Her expression softened bit by bit, and soon we chatted like normal.
We laughed again. Finished eating in good spirits, returned to the academy.
Seeing Chayuri still brought last night to mind, awkward feels.
But today, this was my limit.
We'll talk details when the time comes.
I walked her to the girls' dorm and we parted.
On the way back after dropping Chayuri at the girls' dorm.
The academy was dead quiet from last night's party aftermath.
Just the occasional early-departing VIP carriage.
“Hm?”
But one carriage seemed off.
VIP carriages usually went straight from parking to main gate.
But one far off was heading elsewhere.
“Coming this way?”
Precisely toward me. The guys' dorm direction.
It was an extravagantly gold-plated carriage.
The approaching golden carriage stopped right in front of me.
Out stepped none other than the empire's two princes.
“Hey.”
Oh yeah, I'd bet with Akail.
Here to apologize?
Akail, with Crown Prince Arthur Sunrise, approached with a grumpy face.
“Um. Hello.”
I greeted awkwardly.
No Hisenna or Chayuri—had no idea how to handle royalty.
Just mimicked how mages greet archdukes.
“Pleased to meet you, cadet. I'm Arthur Sunrise, Crown Prince of the Empire.”
“I'm Ian Isaac.”
Surprisingly, it was Crown Prince Arthur who spoke first.
“Seems the Second Prince inadvertently offended a Merhen mage. I apologize on his behalf. Akail.”
“Sorry.”
Arthur dragged Akail forward like a parent with a 7-year-old who'd goofed, making him apologize.
With the crown prince bowing, hard to press more.
Not like I wanted to scrap with princes solo.
“I watched your subjugation festival performance. Impressive skill for a first-year. We've made a grave mistake with magic's future.”
“No, really, it's fine.”
But Arthur kept apologizing nonstop.
Akail's the one who messed up—why so grandiose?
“The imperial family doesn't want this escalating into conflict with mage society. We apologize formally and wish smooth relations.”
“I'm just a commoner. It won't reach mage society over me...”
“Thus, Cadet Ian Isaac, we formally invite you to the imperial palace.”
“...Pardon?!”
“A proper apology and compensation. And to build better ties going forward. Perfect timing—the empire's Founding Festival coincides with semester's end. You're formally invited as a guest. Other mages attend too, so please grace us. We've informed Yuuna as well—meet her there.”
“Y-Yes?”
“Well then.”
“Sorry. Sincere apology. See you in the capital.”
“Wait, hold on...!”
With that, Arthur turned and boarded the carriage,
Akail tossed one more perfunctory sorry and followed.
“Wait!”
What the hell? Imperial invitation out of nowhere?
I called after them in shock, but the carriage ignored me and left the academy.